Good one Mike. Agree and I have over 50 mil surps used in WWI. I’m broke now after 15 yrs collecting. I hold you and Alden personally responsible for 30k Of additional buys or Militaria. 5k you and 25k Mosin Crate.
I've got a Pattern 14 manufactured by Remington in 1915 and absolutely love it, other than the exact thing he pointed out, rimlock. I love .303, fantastic cartridge other than the rim. For this reason the M1917 is at the top of my list for rifles to get.
1917 is definitely a good choice. Mine is a Winchester from January 1918 and she's an absolute beauty. Have you had any experience with early Arisakas? I feel like those always fly under the radar especially in WW1
Great choice wish I could find a nice model to have in my collection, The movie The Lost Battalion made me want one seeing most of the guys carried that rifle when I was a kid.
Cheers Mike, really appreciate your review Being in the UK we cannot easily have these rifles. However I do own a deactivated SMLE which I am totally biased too.
Yeah the UK is retarded with their gun laws. Still tons of violent crime, people just use other weapons. A deactivated SMLE is like having a blow up doll instead of an actual girlfriend unfortunately.
On a side note, that M1917's in really good shape. When mine got refurbished pre WW2, dude put another sling swivel on the front instead of a stacking ring.
That sucks. I don't think this one ever left the states or an arms room. It's a 12-17 dated Winchester so there's a good chance it just sat until surplused out.
The M1917 (or P14 when it’s in .303) is fantastic. The perfect mix of a Mauser’s strength and an Enfield’s ergonomics, with excellent sights, and a fantastic barrel. The M1917 is also better than the P14, simply because of the rimless cartridge.
Respect.. P14 was designed at Enfield lock and was to be UK general Service Rifle to replace the SMLE. But 1914-18 happened and things changed. But in a trench warfare situation… 303 Smle MkIII no probs with rim lock if you load clips correctly. Sights ideal for looking over trench parapets at trench warfare ranges. P14/17 much heavier and larger/longer with flip up rear sight not ideal in trench warfare. (I have both)
I have heard some state the M1903A3 was preferred for carrying, marching etc but the M1917 was preferred when enemy contact was imminent. Sort of like preferring to tote an M16, but wishing for an M14 when things got serious. I just bought an M1917 and it is so accurate!
IMO the Lee-Parkhurst (Edward G. Parkhurst’s improved Lee-Navy) with the improvements the Springfield 1903 received, a better rear sight (maybe something similar to that of the Ross MKIII but placed where the Buffington on the 1903 is, like the later versions of the Ross MKII that had them on the handguard), the Winchester Model D semi-pistol grip (essentially the same semi-pistol grip on the Lee-Navy), a stripper clip bridge (maybe how it was added onto the Russian Winchester Model 1895) for fast loading, and a 7mm round (maybe like .280 Remington since that uses the .30-03 case) would’ve been an amazing battle rifle for the WW1.
I like the m1917 but if I could have a largely issued rifle during ww1 I'd probably take the French RSC1917 (or if I could I'd take the shorter RSC1918 but I have a hard time saying that due to its late/limited adoption) because as nice a shooter as the M1917 is Id much rather have the ability to get a quick follow up shot in the trenches
This is the rifle that had W.W.I not occurred would have replaced the S.M.L.E. as the standard British service rifle, chambered in the then new rimless .276” Enfield round the British Army were due to start field trials with the P.13 as it was known in late 1914, had the trials gone well they expected it to start replacing the Lee-Enfield in 1917.
I'm a fan of the 1917 myself. I own several of them. I'm on the fence about which WW1combat rifle was the best. The rim lock on the .303 rim lock isn't the issue you think it is. Look at military rounds, you'll notice a bevel in the rim, all you have to do is give a hard push and the round will feed. Do you actually believe the British or any Armey that adopted a rimmed cartridge didn't think of that?
At 1:30 I thought you were going to say sight radius! haha I see you mentioned it later. That would be one reason I'd choose this rifle. In addition, my very first hunting rifle was one of these models, with a Jan 1919 barrel on it. The original stock was sportered, but I was able to shoot that rifle with a nice 3-9 Leupold scope on it inch groups at 100 yards. For me, that's pretty good! haha I never shot anything with it the years I carried it. It was given to me by a good family friend, and once I started collecting I gave it back since it was their father's they used so long ago. Still an absolutely amazing rifle! I'd have to pick this one for the sights. But I am very partial to Imperial Russian rifles, too!
I'd second your decision, that's a wonderful rifle & was the pinnacle of bolt action rifles in it's time IMO. Shot the 1917 after I had a long round with a rather not-so-smooth K98 and was impressed how smooth it run. Even though I like the handling of the slimmer french rifles quite much, the sights on this thing are simply great and I got the impression, that the trigger is one of the best on rifles of the period, I liked the one on the french Berthier 1916 too, but I personally don't like the very straight triggers itself on the french ones too much, maybe because I'm not too used to it, I don't know.
I have spent 30 years shooting P14's, M 1917's, No 4's and SMLE's etc in Service Rifle Competition. For years I was a P14 or M1917' fan, and I do still love them, but after all these years, and 10's of thousands of rounds down range I am now a Lee Enfield fan. The reasons are that 303 rimlock is much more myth than reality. Just watch Bloke on the Range dispel that. I do understand the preference for a peep sight over a barrel mounted sight, however as long as your eyes are good enough to see the barrel mounted sight, it works just as well, especially when going fast. And going fast is what its all about with Lee Enfield actions, I have done enough Mad Minute's now to know that you will always be quicker shot to shot with a Lee Enfield Action, and while some wont agree, stripper clip loading with 303B is often faster compared with rimless rounds. A lot of that has to do with the ammo, specifically the bevel on the rim, a lot of commercial 303 doesnt have it, mil spec ammo has it. Again watch Bloke ion the Range for more detail. So if I was in the trenches of WW1, its SMLE for me, its reliable in the Mud, fast to shoot, fast to reload, and accurate enough.
Totally agree with your choice. In my opinion the Swiss Karabiner 1911 is a close second though when figuring neutral nations in, too. Would you agree? The K11 is even slightly handier, also does have a full length handguard, has an equal or in some ways better cartridge, has the same capacity and a very smooth, high quality action. It only comes down to preference of a U-notch or a peep sight.
I absolutely agree the 1917 was a fantastic rifle and still is! I have fired quite a few ww1 rifles, not all unfortunately but enough to have a semi informed decision and I would have chosen the 1917 aswell.
Agreed M1917 was a great rifle and took less time to produce vs the 1903. I have the p14 shoots great now I need a M1917. I heard marksman preferred the 1917 vs 1903.
What if you were left handed? I’m not that knowledgeable but I believe the Russian 1895 Winchester were one of the only ambidextrous rifles since they were level action but still box magazine. I am a retired veteran and left handed, but shot right handed until I had eye surgery in my mid 40s and the change has been considerable.
Most of the time they wouldn't have allowed soldiers to fire left handed, and they'd be trained to shoot right handed. That wasn't just the U.S., that was most of the world at that point.
American Eddystone. Watching the aussies use the British equivalent they are quick and reliable. Not fond of the cock on closing but an excellent rifle. In 30.06 which is awesome
@@MikeB128 yeah as for being British everything but the round was British which despite that is still an excellent rifle. The 1903 was an excellent rifle also. In fact there wasn’t a bad European rifle of that era was there? The Mauser, the lebel, not sure of what the Italians had but their unique calibers are a drawback. I recently bought an Eddystone in excellent shape for $300 which I wish I could buy all day lone. The cock on closing is rough to get use to. The aussies say manhandle it as rough as you can on working the bolt. They seem to know how to use it.
It's not called an "Eddystone". That's like calling a No1 MKIII a "Birmingham Small Arms". It's literally called an M1917 Service rifle....... Also what state I'm in is not relevant.
@@MikeB128 didn’t mean to be rude. Just curious if you were close could meet at a shooting range. Well mines an Eddystone. Says so on the rifle 😉. Call them what you want. I just love rifles.
You know how some bolt action rifles like the k98k have a sort of bolt stop when the mag is empty. The follower gets in the way and prevents you from cycling the bolt on an empty mag. Is it normal for a 1917 to not have that feature? Mine was sent to canada as lend lease and it dosn't have one. I heard some of them have that feature and some don't.
@@MikeB128 Mine has an orange stripe near the end of the muzzle that was painted on there. It has Canadian markings near the butt of the stock. It also says p17 on the barrel. I duno maybe the Canadians fucked with it. Maybe it said something nasty about maple syrup or something.
@@JonDoe-ef4tz British Commonwealth users, including the British "Home Guard" Reservists, marked the M1917's they received as Lend Lease with red stripes to differentiate them as 30.06 weapons because they were visually identical to the .303 P-14's they also had in service. To prevent inexperienced troops from trying to load with the wrong ammunition.
Yeah, it's unique, generally made better, and more comfortable than US stuff. Plus UCP is fucking cancer, and I get sick of all the generic MOLLE shit that the market's flooded with.
